Texas' Steve Sarkisian advises Arch Manning to 'just go be you' - ESPN

As the No. 1 Longhorns head to Columbus to face No. 3 Ohio State in what coach Steve Sarkisian called an «epic matchup,» all eyes are on Texas' new starting quarterback, Arch Manning.

Manning, the preseason Heisman Trophy favorite according to ESPN BET, has made just two starts in two years — against UL Monroe and Mississippi State last season — but this will be his first start on the road or against a ranked team.

With all the noise, Sarkisian said his message to Manning has been just to be himself.

«We're not asking any superhuman efforts of you to do anything that is extraordinary,» Sarkisian said Monday about what he told Manning. «Just go be you. What you've done is good enough to get us to this point and to get him to this point in this juncture of his career. Now go play the way he's capable of playing to the style that he's comfortable doing it.»

Manning threw for 939 yards with 9 touchdowns and 2 interceptions in spot duty last season, while rushing for 108 yards and 4 touchdowns. His best performance was off the bench against UTSA last year, when he replaced Quinn Ewers and threw for 223 yards and 4 touchdowns on 9-of-12 passing while adding a 67-yard touchdown run — the longest by a Texas quarterback since Vince Young in 2005.

Now that he's got the job full-time, he said he won't take the opportunity for granted.

«This is what I've been waiting for,» Manning said Monday. «I spent two years not playing, so I might as well go have some fun.»

The game marks just the second time since the AP poll debuted in 1950 that two top-3 teams will meet in their season opener, according to ESPN Research. The last time was 2017, when No. 1 Alabama beat No. 3 Florida State 24-7 and went on to win the national championship.

It'